Moving all your belongings from one home to is a very stressful task. If you're moving a large piano, the stress might increase. This is especially true if your piano is so big that you have to rent a crane and have it go through a second, third, or even higher floor to reach its final destination. The first thing you have to determine is if you can rent a hoist to lift your piano, or do you need to rent a crane. Here is some information that will help you determine the best option for your specific situation:

How High Do You Need to Lift the Piano?

The first thing to consider is how high you need to lift the piano to get it to the balcony. If you are going to the second floor, a hoist will probably work well for smaller pianos. If you are going to the 4^th or 5^th floor or you are moving a large grand piano, then go right for the crane. Cranes can operate safely at higher elevations than hoists can. Another alternative would be to use a hydraulic lift for floors higher than a second level.

How Heavy Is the Piano?

Generally speaking, there is a weight limit on what you can physically hoist up to a second or third floor balcony. This is especially true if you are using a manual hoisting machine, because then you are limited to the extent of your man-power. But most hoists today use electrically powered motors to raise and lower items to high elevations. So you are limited to the maximum weight the motor can handle. You can typically find this information in the user's manual, or ask an employee at the equipment rental shop.

Cranes can handle heavier loads than a hoist. Cranes can also reach higher than hoists, and they can reach over other objects that may impede the use of a hoist. When you are lifting a heavy piano, you want to take every measure to ensure the move is performed safely in order to prevent damage to the piano, injury to the movers, and damage to the surrounding property.

Are You Moving More Than One Piano?

Some households do own more than one piano, especially if there are more than one family member who plays this instrument. When moving a piano, think about how it's going to be wrapped up and protected during the move. Most moving companies will charge a fee for each item hoisted, and they may tack on a materials charge for each item, because the extra bulk adds weight to each item being lifted. Taking these things into consideration and comparing the total cost of renting a crane and not having to pay a per-item charge or materials cost, and you could save some money.

The final decision is up to you. But this article should help you decide which is best for your situation, a hoist or a crane. You can rent hoists and cranes at your local construction equipment rental store. Expect the total cost to move your piano locally to your new home to be about $750. Then, the crane rental could be as much as $1,500. If you want insurance, then that would be about $5–$10 per $1,000 in value. You should also have the piano tuned once it is in position in your new home. That will be another cost that is dependent on the specific type of piano you have, and how much work is needed to get it back in tune.

If you have any questions about renting a crane to move your piano, then contact companies like A C Jones Trucking Inc. They'd be happy to help you.